Homemade Granola

Now I do not know about you but I have to say there are a bunch of things that I just did not think you could make before and that had to bought in a package.  The main one was corn bread, but now I think homemade is the only way to go!

The recipe I am going to share with you today is another one! Granola -- Now I think I am selling my self short by saying that Granola can only be bought in a can, but more or less maybe my perception was it is easier to buy it from the Grocery store.  But after you try this recipe you will never go back to store brought Granola.  I now think I am a Granola SNOB

Ingredients that go in the Oven:

3 Cups of Oatmeal
1 Cup of Nuts (I used a mixture of pecan bits, whole pecans, slivered almonds, and walnuts)
1 Tablespoon of Vanilla
1 Tablespoon of Cinnamon
1/2 Teaspoon of Salt
1/3 cup of Brown Sugary
1 Cup of Pure Maple Syrup.

1.  Pre-Heat the Oven to 325 degrees.
2.  Dump all of the above ingredients in a big enough bowl, and mix well.

3.  Line a cookie sheet with foil, and spray with butter flavored Spray

4.  After all of your ingredients are mixed well spread onto the cookie sheet, making sure all areas are covered.

5.  Bake for 20 minutes and than stir the granola around, so that other areas of the granola will get toasted. 

6.  Make for about another additional 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown.

7.  Allow to cool completely, and than put away.  My pieces stuck together a bit, so I had to break them up.

I ate this granola over yogurt you can also mix in some dried fruit before serving.

I ate 1/2 a cup of granola mixed with a half container of yogurt for breakfast.  The first day I was starving at 10:00 am.  The second day I did the same mixture, and I was full.  I think the difference with the two days, was on the first day I ate at 5:30 am, and the second day I ate around 7:00 am.

Enjoy!

Love it, Like it, Must have it Wednesday

I am always saying I Love it, I Like It, or I want it. I always love being told about great products, places to go visit, or must haves. I love the O' list in Oprah's magazine, shopping on Ideeli, and searching the Internet for interesting unique things.



This weeks "Love it, Like it, Must have it Wednesday: is the place we went for brunch over the weekend:


Simon Pierce Restaurant on the Brandywine
located in West Chester, PA

The food was great, we started out with homemade bread: pecan raisin nut, olive, and biscuits and delicious soft, very soft (and I think homemade) butter. The olive bread was my favorite, I just kept eating it.

I got a pineapple soda, it was OK, I liked it, but not as good as the pineapple soda I had while in San Diego.

 

We got the bakery basket, which was so delicious. We could of almost ordered this for desert, as the bread was just so good and it was hard to pick bakery basket or bread basket.

For an appetizer I got the Corn Polenta and Broccoli Gratin with Tallegio Cheese. The Tallegio Cheese was a stinky cheese that covered the gratin, it added a different flair.

For the main entree, Banana Bread French Toast, this was delicious. I would have never thought of making french toast out of banana bread, and it had a passion fruit curd, and fresh bananas on top with caramelized pecans. this was great.

Now after brunch we walked the store, I fell in love with these and I left feeling I must have them!!!

Now I am a little confused, because I kept seeing different prices, the store had one price the lowest, online the second lowest, and the catalogue a little bit more.

They had the tallest one on: a lighted pedestal, and it glowed beautifully!


Below are pictures of the artisan's blowing glass.

I want to go back this Sunday for brunch...we will see.  Next time I will take more photos of the food, we were with friends, and I felt a little awkward, taking photo's of everything...

Outside of the building.  GPS does not take you exactly there, so make an educated decision, if you see the building you are there!